Instructions

so here it is, finally i have a blog to post my tales from delivering lost luggage to people.
i invite anyone who wants to contribute, to post their own tales. plus i welcome coments, complaints, and your side of the story from those who i deliver to.

i'll start this blog out with reasons your luggage went missing, then describe the recovery process, then the do's and don'ts when it finally arives. note "luggage" can be any object checked at the counter at the airport i.e.: baggage, guitar, walker, carseat, carriage, cello, computer, tv, etc.

REASONS FOR "LOST LUGGAGE"

• It got on a different plane then you did
• lay overs and cancelations cause this to happen
• large and odd shaped objects may not get on the plane due to shape or weight
• airport security detained it because it was holding suspect material
• if you are bringing food into the US that doesn't belong
• if you have a container with liquid or other material that is suspect such as wax or lotion
• something else looked weird when it went through the x-ray machine

STEPS TO LUGGAGE RECOVERY TIMELINE

1. Airline "finds" your luggage
2. Airline calls to inform you your luggage has been found and informs you of how long till you "should" recieve (perhaps 4-8 hrs) your luggage. (hr 1)
3. You're luggage is handed over to and signed by agents of the logistics company assigned to arrange delivery
4. Agents bring luggage back to a wharehouse where it is to be held till a contracted driver is able to deliver it. At this point you may be contacted by a dispatcher, as to the reciept and an ETA (Estimated [not exact] Time of Arival). Time from Airline to wharehouse: 2-4 hrs
5. luggage waits for driver to arrive at wharehouse, at which point the driver calls the "passenger" (you) and informs you of your of his ETA. this IS the final word on when you get your bag. THERE IS THE POSSIBLITY YOU WILL GET YOUR LUGGAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. (time till driver gets to wharehouse after bag has arived: 2-6 hrs)
6. the driver takes yours plus other peoples luggage in his OWN car/van to your home or business for you to sign for it. you CAN opt to waive your signature through the airline, or the dispatcher/driver will offer for you to "leave a note on the door"
7. Total time from airline to you 4-12+ hrs

DOS & DON'TS

• DON'TS
• Don't give anyone a hard time
• Don't be demanding
• Don't curse anyone off
• Don't provide a bad phone number or a number that you're gonna turn off
• Do NOT make the driver walk your luggage into your house/apartment (drivers are only insured to your doorstep)
• Drivers DO NOT work for the airline, they are independent business men so DO NOT talk down to them
• Don't make threats at the driver or dispatcher (if you do it may prolong the time till you get your luggage)
• don't say to a driver he hasn't heard before like:
• "oh you're working late" (if you're gonna say this you should be gracious and tip)
• "wow! they got you out early" (if you're gonna say this you should be gracious and tip)
• "do i owe you anything" (you may be asked for a tip)
• "you didn't call" when your phone is turned off
• DOs
• Thank the driver for delivering your luggage
• Tip the driver (optional. but if you say any of the above you should)
• Remember that the driver DOES NOT work for the airline and his own boss. so if you ask to speak to his boss, you are already speaking to him/her.
• Remember if you're going to make threats on the drivers employment, that he knows where you sleep at night.
• If you can't tip you can email the logistics company with a compliment, and/or in the case of this contractor: i'm on AngiesList.com & LinkedIn.com or you can post comments to this blog directly